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No. 19 SMU back after needed open date to take on Temple

- Oct. 18, 2019 03:02 AM EDT

SMU quarterback Shane Buechele (7) hands the ball to running back Xavier Jones, right, during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Tulsa, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Dallas, Texas. (AP Photo/Roger Steinman)

DALLAS (AP) — No. 19 SMU got a chance to take its breath right in the middle of its best season since the Pony Express days.

That open date came at a perfect time for the Mustangs (6-0, 2-0 American), right after an incredible three-touchdown comeback in the fourth quarter of what became a three-overtime victory over Tulsa two weeks ago.

"We needed an open date," coach Sonny Dykes said.

SMU will now try to get to 7-0 for the first time since 1982, when Eric Dickerson and Craig James led to an 11-0-1 season. The Mustangs are at home Saturday against Temple (5-1, 2-0) in a matchup of AAC division co-leaders.

While the Mustangs are off to their best start since resuming play in 1989 after the NCAA death penalty and a two-year hiatus from games, they are only halfway through the regular season. They still have the bulk of their conference schedule to play, including Memphis — which was ranked and undefeated before losing at Temple last week — Navy and West Division co-leader Tulane.

"It's hard not to look at it, all the way through and say, 'Wow, we're going to play a lot of good football teams,' and a bunch of teams that have had a lot of success," Dykes said. "The one thing that's getting ready to happen with our league is kind of what happened last week, where you've got two really good teams playing each other ... teams are going to start knocking each other off in the league."

Like Temple did last against then-No. 23 Memphis, winning 30-28 after building an early 16-0 lead. The Owls have won their last five conference games.

Both SMU and Memphis have high-scoring, big-gaining offenses with two of the league's most efficient passers (SMU's Shane Buechele leads the league with 277.5 yards per game) and running backs who average more than 100 yards a game. The Mustangs also feature receivers James Proche (AAC-high 7.5 catches a game, third with 88.2 yards receiving per game) and Reggie Roberson Jr (90.8 yards per game).

"They do it so different," first-year Temple coach Rod Carey said of the Mustangs and Tigers. "I think the fact that they're explosive gets your attention when you watch the film and you see them, run the ball, throw the ball, execute at a high level. But both teams do it so different that really the carryover, there's not a ton there."

RANKED WINS

Temple already has two wins over ranked teams, the first time the Owls have defeated two Top 25 teams in the same season.

"To be the best, you've got to beat the best, whether that's the best in our conference, the best in the country," quarterback Anthony Russo said. "We want to be the best."

After winning 20-17 over then-No. 21 Maryland on September 14, the Owls lost at Buffalo the following week.

SOME IMPRESIVE NUMBERS

Re'Mahn Davis has 575 yards rushing for Temple, the most for an FBS true freshman. ... Temple and SMU are among three AAC teams with multiple players averaging at least 100 all-purpose yards per game: WR Isaiah Wright (125.8 ypg) and Davis for the Owls; RB Xavier Jones (115.5 ypg) and Proche (100 ypg) for the Mustangs.

ON THE OTHER SIDE

Temple assistant coach Brett Diersen was on Dykes' staff last season as defensive line coach. SMU defensive coordinator Kevin Kahne was previously on Carey's staff at Northern Illinois.

"I'm sure Temple will have a plan to adjust what they need to adjust, as we will as well," Dykes said. "At the end of the day, the players decide the game. ... That stuff gets blown out of proportion."

LOT OF POINTS AFTER ALL TIED UP

The Mustangs and Owls have played some high-scoring games in their three meetings as AAC foes. SMU won 59-49 in 2013, but Temple has won the last two meetings — 60-40 in 2015, and 45-20 the following season. The only other two games in the series were ties of 6-6 and 7-7 back in the 1940s.